Let me see how I can help you. Where are the questions you would like answered? I will work with what you have given me.

How to cope?

One has to have health care professionals working with them. This is not always the case.

Going to the laboratory every three months is very important to keep the counts.

One has to be able to eat.

The spirit has to nurtured as one does think about death and dying and a host of other things that one did not think about before diagnosis.

Support groups help one to understand that one is not alone.

Being on a forum like this one helps one cope.

The medication where available helps a lot in reducing the number of virus in the bloodstream, stop the virus from multiplying as well as increasing the fighter cells. Medication surely helps one to cope.

Struggles.

Who does one tell after diagnosis?

Fear of stigma and discrimination.

Deciding whether or not to take medication.

Medication side effects.

Coping with nausea, stomach cramps and loss of appetite among other side effects.

Fear of dying before ones time.

Counting the losses eg may never have children, partner or any family at all.

Not being able to travel to the USA and other countries that ban HIV people.

Wondering who gave one the virus.

Wondering who one has infected.

Dealing with opportunistic illnesses.

Struggling to keep healthy.

Some HIV people have no food, shelter or basic education. It is very difficult for these people to take their medication on time or at all.

Please (and note I said please unlike you ) send other questions that you might have my way. Tomorrow is almost here.

This are personal answers and the answers are not exhaustive.

Always
Muthoni (Mson)

Yes , tomorrow not because we've left it but because we've not had responses from any other organization we've contacted. So THANK YOU so , so much this means a lot to us. What we've chosen to focus our project on is stigma's/how they can be changed and how youth can become involved.
Thank you so much again for your answer's and your willingness to help out.
A few questions are ..
1. Have you experienced any discrimination due to your status ? ( I didn't know about the travel restrictions, that's crazy)
2. Have you noticed changes in how people who are aware of your status treat you ?
3. Do the stereotypes and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in today's society bother you ?
4. How old were you when you were diagnosed ?
5. If there was one piece of advice you could give a class of 16 nd 17 year old's , what would it be ?
I know the issue in question three bothers me a lot, I have a cousin who's HIV positive and since learning of this I've really come to realize how insensitive people can be , especially teenager's.
Thank you again for your help,
Emily

You are welcome.

I am very pleased when I see youth getting together to do something concerning HIV/AIDS. Sorry to hear about your cousin and I hope he will be alright in this sometimes unfair world.

Stigma and discrimination caused me not to tell my family for 5 years after diagnosis. I was born in Kenya and came to Canada for an International AIDS conference. I was afraid that my family would hate me and reject me. It is only after I got medication in Canada that i was able to tell my family via hand written letter.

They took a while to reply but when they did, they were very kind. I could sense their love.

1. Have you experienced any discrimination due to your status ? ( I didn't know about the travel restrictions, that's crazy)

Yes, I have been refused permanent resident in Canada because of AIDS. I am in the process of trying again. They say that I am a drain to society. I have been here for 12 years and if I wasn't strong, my heart would be broken. I still suffer depression regarding immigration. I pray about the situation and think positive thoughts. I love Canada and it is a second home. I am married here but that don't matter, I have AIDS.

My husband works and I am covered mbae his work as far as health is concerned and still immigration won't count me as a person who is not a drain to society. I have taught hundreds if not thousands of Canadians on prevention. I must have saved the government lots of money but that doesn't seem to count with immigration. It is very frustrating.


2. Have you noticed changes in how people who are aware of your status treat you ?

Because I am stronger as a person and because I have had the virus for a long time, I no longer care about people who treat me badly for my disease. If I show myself strong, then the people see me as strong and HIV becomes secondary. It takes the back bench. Unless it is immigration...


3. Do the stereotypes and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in today's society bother you ?

Sometimes I think we have had HIV/AIDS for more than two decades and still people are ignorant. It bothers me enough that I get off my butt and teach about HIV/AIDS. For over 10 years I have been teaching about HIV/AIDS. I grow through the teaching. That is why I was so eager to help you out because you are fighting ignorance and I say to you and the person you are working with. You both ROCK!

4. How old were you when you were diagnosed ?

I was told at age 24 that I had AIDS. That means I had spent some years with the virus without knowing. I assume I was infected around age 17/18. It has been almost 16 years since I was told and I have gone through my twenties and my thirties as a person living with AIDS and now I am handling my forties. I am grateful that I made it this far.


5. If there was one piece of advice you could give a class of 16 nd 17 year old's , what would it be ?

As much as you take care while crossing the road, be careful about who uses your sexual body parts. Don't allow other people's blood, semen or vaginal fluids come to your body unless you have both been tested. It is recommended that one takes a test after three months from infect and then a second time after another three months. Until you have seen two test results taken three months apart, don't let those body fluids meet yours. Know your partner inside out before intimacy. Abstain or else protect yourself.

Oh, you asked for one piece of advice and here I am going on and on.

I am very happy to help me out. Let me know if you need anything else and I hope you will come back and let us know how it all went.

All the best
Muthoni (Mson)

1. Have you experienced any discrimination due to your status ? ( I didn't know about the travel restrictions, that's crazy)not personally,no.

2. Have you noticed changes in how people who are aware of your status treat you ?no,everyone has treated me the same.

3. Do the stereotypes and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in today's society bother you ?not usually.I don't care much about what people think.

4. How old were you when you were diagnosed ?42 I think

5. If there was one piece of advice you could give a class of 16 nd 17 year old's , what would it be ? Play safe...safe sex or no sex... period. And don't be afraid of people with AIDS.You cant get it from love,holding hands,being friends,or a kiss...chill out and be cool. It doesn't define who a person it.